Central Airport & the Airport Circle

If you or I had a nickel for every time someone said or thought “but where’s the airport?” while traveling to or from Philadelphia, one of us would certainly have a boxcar or three worth of nickels! Yes Virginia, there once was an airport there… the main airport serving the Delaware Valley, as a matter of fact!

The question of having a commercial airport in Camden arose in the 1920s. With the main postal facility in the area being at 9th and Market in Philadelphia, and the desirability of being close to Center City Philadelphia and the booming City of Camden quite evident, the question then became where an airport could be located that would be safe for takeoff and landing, as well as being reasonably accessible to the travelers arriving and departing by air. It was determined that the Pennsauken township location that became Central Airport filled the bill perfectly.

Philadelphia built a facility in the south of the city, but it failed to be a commercial success due to the distance from the city’s downtown as well as being far from any other travel connections. Camden, being close to heart of Philadelphia not only by ferry, but by the massive new suspension bridge then under construction, next attracted the attention of developers intent on developing a facility to take advantage of the new technology.

Initial locations proposed included the Harrison Avenue garbage dump along the Delaware River in Cramer Hill, and what was then called the Moro Phillips tract, named after the famous 19th-century industrialist who had owned it, bounded by the north bank of the Cooper River, River Road, and State Street. Both of these sites were deemed unsafe due to the presence of smoke stacks from nearby factories and industrial sites. One must visualize in the context of the early 1920s… the planes were smaller and flew at lower altitudes than today, and those factories were burning coal… they called them smokestacks for a reason.

A solution presented itself with the building of the Delaware River Bridge, and the construction of a new highway along the north bank of the Cooper River from the Federal Street Bridge to Pennsauken, where it would link to what was then known as State Highway 25, Crescent Boulevard, the Marlton Pike, and Kaighn Avenue. This highway enabled residents of the relatively new suburban towns along the White Horse Pike to drive straight into Philadelphia while avoiding traffic in Camden, and began the development of the previously underdeveloped Delaware Township. A new invention, the traffic circle, was set up at the intersection of Crescent Boulevard, Kaighn Avenue, a short connecting road to the previously existing Marlton Pike, and the new road, which in time became known as The Admiral Wilson Boulevard, in honor of Camden native son and World War I hero Henry Braid Wilson Jr.

A piece of undeveloped ground along the north bank of the Cooper River, east of Crescent Boulevard and South of Marlton Pike, attracted the interest of those desiring an airport’s construction. Joseph H. Fisher had once operated a farm on this land. Level ground, close to everything by the other great new invention of the time, the automobile, and with nary a smokestack close to the site… in fact, there were few three story buildings within a 1.5 mile radius… the site was chosen for the next jewel to Camden’s crown… the Central Airport. Needless to say, the new traffic circle quickly became known as the Airport Circle.

Once opened for operations in September of 1929, Central Airport would be the prime air connection between the Philadelphia metropolitan area and the world for about twelve years. However, by 1938 the end was in sight. The development of larger airplanes such as the Douglas DC-3 meant the need for takeoff and landing strips longer than those at Central Airport, and the construction of the much larger Philadelphia International Airport doomed the field. Once the Philadelphia Airport opened in June of 1940, the four airlines then serving Philadelphia through Central Airport (American, Eastern, TWA, and United) left the Pennsauken facility behind, terminating their operations at the then obsolete field.

In its heyday, Central Airport saw the comings and goings of the famous, and in some cases the would-be notorious. Airmail would arrive at Central Airport, and be transported by autogyro, a precursor of the modern helicopter, to the roof of the United States Postal Office at 9th and Market Streets in Philadelphia. In the 1940s, Central Airport served as a training facility for naval and marine aviators, who learned takeoff and landing skills in yellow Stearman N2S-3 bi-planes. In an early attempt to legalize gambling in New Jersey, a dog track operated nearby in 1934, a swimming pool operated several years, and there was an outdoor arena that featured professional and amateur boxing matches in the mid- and late-1930s.

Most notable among the businesses that appeared around the airport were two nightclubs which are well remembered long after they were gone. Weber’s hof Brau was located on the northbound side of Crescent Boulevard adjacent to the airport. With food, dancing, and entertainment, Weber’s hof Brau was a popular nightspot until it was destroyed by fire in 1951. On the opposite side of the Airport Circle was Camden native son Neil Deighan’s spot. Simply called Neil Deighan’s, the club was briefly known as Club Shaguire before being renamed The Pub, under which name it has operated since the early 1950s. The Airport also lent its name to the Airport Pontiac car dealership, and the Airport Rug and Carpet Company.

After World War II, usage of the airport declined to the point where it was no longer viable. Camden Central Airport was still depicted as an active airfield on the 1955 Washington Sectional Chart, which described it as having three runways, with the longest being a 2,800’ asphalt strip. However, the field was apparently on its last legs, as it was described as “unattended”. Camden Central Airport was apparently closed at some point between 1955–57, as it was not depicted at all on the July 1957 NY Sectional Chart, and it was labeled “Abandoned Airport” on the 1961 Philadelphia Local Aeronautical Chart. The property was sold, and was redeveloped as an industrial park. Roads running through the park such as Central Highway and Airport Highway, give clue to its heritage.

More About Central Airport: Paul Freeman’s Abandoned and Little Known Airfields

Photos courtesy of Warren Fairess, from the collection of his mother, Marie Fisbeck Fairess.

From Camden County 1681–1931, 250th Anniversary Book.

Picture published 1931. Central Airport. Roads at bottom of picture are Admiral Wilson Blvd. & Kaighn Avenue. Route 130 bisects the picture horizontally, Marlton Pike (Route 70) runs from upper left of picture to the top. Collingswood houses are visible upper right, next to nothing built yet in Cherry Hill.

Wiley Post, who, with Harold Gatty, holds the round-the-world speed record, was a brief visitor to Camden yesterday when the E.A.T. plane in which he was a passenger stopped for ten minutes at Central Airport.

The famous flyer, en route to St. Louis from New York, landed at 11:28 a.m. with other passengers in the huge biplane. He greeted officials of the field and made a brief inspection of the airport before taking off again.

Planes Using Central Airport May Be Taken Over by Eastern Air Transport

Sale of Ludington Air Lines, operating between New York and Washington with a landing field here at Central Airport, appeared certain yesterday with Eastern Air Transport as the prospective purchaser.

James M. Eaton, president of the Ludington lines, announced at Washington yesterday that an offer for purchase of the lines has been made by the E.A.T., but that negotiations had not been completed and “no further official statement can be made at this time.”

His announcement followed a report yesterday by Dow, Jones & Company, of New York, that it is understood negotiations had been completed for acquisition of the lines, and that the purchase price was approximately $250,000.

C. Townsend Ludington and Nicholas Ludington, who founded the company, could not be located last night at their homes in Ardmore Pa., to learn the possible sale would in any way involve Central Airport, which is owned by the Central Airport, Inc., a separate concern from Ludington Air Lines.

A news report from New York which also preceded the Eaton statement asserted that a merger of the North American Aviation Company, owners of Eastern Air Transport, and the General Aviation Corporation, was to be announced within a few days, and that the merged companies planned to purchase the Ludington Air Lines. “In accepting a job with Ludington Air Lines it was my responsibility to protect the private investment of Ludington stockholders,” Eaton said. “There were two ways of doing this. One was to obtain a mail contract from the present administration; the other to get the company on an efficient basis and to continue operation on the basis of getting mail from the incoming administration. However, if, due to improved conditions, an offer of purchase or merging presented itself, then that offered a third way of protecting the stockholders.”

The Ludington Air Lines started operations in September, 1930. The main offices were moved from Philadelphia to Washington last September.

A tour of Camden’s leading industrial plants following a reception at Central Airport has been arranged for Stanley F. Hausner, the “Flying Pole” of Newark, when he is the guest of this city Thursday.

Hausner, who was rescued 550 miles off the coast of Portugal after being missing for more than a week on his solo hop from New York to Warsaw, will arrive at the airport at 10:15 AM. There he will be greeted by Mayor Roy R. Stewart, who will deliver the welcome address. The mayor will escort Hausner to the City Hall where, from the mayor’s office, the aviator will get a glimpse of Camden “from the air.”

Hausner is to address the Camden County Real Estate Board as a guest of the United Polish Organizations here. The real estate board has extended invitations to all other local service clubs to attend the luncheon.

After the luncheon, Hausner will visit the RCA-Victor, the New York Shipbuilding Company and other plants. The Polish organizations will hold a mass meeting at 8:00 PM at Parrish Hall, Tenth and Liberty Streets, at which Hausner will speak.

His visit here is part of a program to raise funds for another attempted flight to Warsaw.

Steps Up to Window With Others and Gets Yard Long Ticket and Insists She Must Make Record-Breaking Trip

Private Park-and-Lark Land Thrown Open to Moonlight Snugglers by Airport Neighbor Peeved at Police Trap

By J. G. Crate

Spooners Quick to Accept Offer of Police-Proof Refuge

Lewis B. Simon’s petters’ paradise opened for business last night and with a rush.

In fact the tract behind that now famous sign on Cooper River Parkway was too crowded for many who visited the spot to watch the planes come in at nearby Central Airport.

Cars rolled in, and cars rolled out, and nary a policeman to bother them.

All in all, about 75 machines visited the new “neckers nook” which Simon established Monday “because police were horsing young people from place to place” and Simon was afraid they would end up in “dives.”

“If a cop can’t tell private property from public roads, then I’ll help ’em out,” Simon said as he erected a huge sign inviting the spooners but denying police the right to enter.

And apparently the “help” was heeded because no cops showed up at Petter’s Paradise last night.

Editorial

Emerson was wrong. All the world does NOT love a lover.

Among the exceptions, it appears, have been the Pennsauken police. Central Airport has been something of a Mecca for wooers and wooed these days. Combined with the lure of watching the moon, has been the interest in seeing the planes arrive and depart.

All the while, the night has tucked the lovers in, their motor cars in blankets of kindly obscurity, only their eyes, as Browning said, “staring, winking at the skies.”

But even those staring and winkings were observed by the keenly observant cops of Pennsauken. Petters’ were told to “move on.” In some cases, it seems, luckless lovers were hauled into court and fined.

Imagine their chagrin today as they face that sign: “Lovers May Park—Beyond This Sign!—(at your own risk)—Police Must Keep Out: Private Property!”

Lewis Simon, a veritable emissary of Cupid himself, has erected it on his farmland near the airport—land which is in Delaware Township, just across the line from Pennsauken Township.

One can hear the petters murmur—“What a man!”

One pictures them, grateful, as they gaze at the moon and pet unmolested by unsympathetic minions of the law.

One can fancy happy couples, strangers out for a drive, startled and delighted by this billboard invitation to a petters paradise!

And who would be so cynical as to call attention to the smallest letters on the sign—“At your own risk!”

While scores of young lovers “watched the planes come in” at Lewis B. Simon’s “petters paradise” in Delaware Township without molestation from police last night, it was a different story in Pennsauken Township.

Recorder George E. Yost fined Walter Bush, 34, of 539 Penn Street, $5 and costs for “petting” near the airport. Arthur E. Pine, 27, of 1376 Chesapeake Road, owner of the car in which Bush and his companion were parked, received a suspended sentence. Joseph M. Mealey, 22, of 1421 North Sixth Street, forfeited $10 security when he failed to appear for a hearing on a “petting” charge. All were arrested by Inspector Thomas Thorpe, of Pennsauken police.

First Lady, Changing Planes Here, Says All Kinds of Reports About Elliott May Now Be Expected

Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt was a visitor for a second time yesterday at Central Airport, on her return plane trip to Washington after visiting her son, Elliott, on the west coast.

The nation’s first lady successfully parried questions concerning rumors that her son contemplated marrying again after he is divorced by his wife at Reno.

“They’re still married, you know,” was her answer.

The plane which bore Mrs. Roosevelt here arrived at 11.53 a.m. and took off four minutes later. Surrounded by newspaper women, Mrs. Roosevelt chatted of everyday happenings and then hurriedly joined other passengers as the signal “all-aboard” was given. “I have enjoyed my trip immensely,” she said laughing as she pressed a handkerchief to perspiring brow. “I should much rather be up there, it is so much cooler than on the ground.”

Other passengers on the plane brushed shoulders with Mrs. Roosevelt at the airport waiting station as though they were unaware that she was the First Lady.

Mrs. Roosevelt, after her usual fashion, was dressed plainly. She wore a blue dress, low-heeled shoes and carried a small brown leather bag to which she clung tightly.

Mrs. Roosevelt flew from Camden to Newark, where she was again questioned. Asked about the possibility of an announced romance after the divorce, Mrs. Roosevelt commented: “Well, the Lord knows. These youngsters nowadays—they get engaged 15 or 20 times, and it doesn’t mean a thing.”

“I suppose that at a time like this there would be reports that he was going to marry 10 different people.” Mrs. Roosevelt told of the lack of harmony which brought the rift between Elliott and his wife. “They were absolutely incompatible. They were incompatible from the start. I could have told them that before they were married, but you know how children are. But there is no hard feeling between them. In fact, Elizabeth is coming up to our camp this Summer. They will reach an agreement on the disposition of the grandchild, of course. The child is our grandchild.”

Traveling virtually incognito, Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, wife of the President, was a Camden guest for five minutes yesterday—unknown to the public and employees of Central Airport.

A passenger in a Curtiss Condor of the Eastern Air Line, Mrs. Roosevelt landed at 10.30 a.m. She remained in the cabin until the ship took off again for Washington.

Neither newspapermen nor photographers knew of her arrival because of the shroud of secrecy adopted by officials of the Eastern Air Line concerning her travels. Few employees at the airport were aware of it until an hour or so later when the news leaked out.

Mrs. Roosevelt had left Newark Airport at 9.48 a.m.

A new air line schedule between New York and Chicago which calls for regular stops at Central Airport was started by the Transcontinental Western Airways yesterday.

The first plane operating on the new schedule left New York at 1.01 p.m. and landed at Camden at 1.45. Mayor J. Hampton Moore of Philadelphia dedicated the new line as the plane arrived here.

The ship left Camden at 1.50 and will make one other stop at Pittsburgh before reaching the Windy City at 7 p.m. The planes used on the new schedule are all tri-motored Fords. Only one plane will run on the schedule but officials of the T.W.A. announced that several will be added in a week.

Planes flying between New York and Chicago heretofore discharged their passengers at Columbus, Ohio, where they changed to another line.

Noted Entertainers Are Given Welcome by Mayor as Event Closes — Co-Operation Days

The “Co-operation Days” jubilee of the combined merchants of Camden ended Saturday with a visit to this city by stage and radio stars as guests of Sears, Roebuck and Company and the city.

The group of celebrities included Welcome Lewis, Nancy Garner, and her daughter, Louise Zenike; Donald Novis and Conrad Thibault. Nancy Garner is a first cousin of Vice President Garner, one of his official hostesses and is now beginning a nationwide tour in interest of the “new deal” policy.

The group was met at Broad Street station where they arrived in a special car with Martin A. Gosh, of the Sears publicity department, as host. They were escorted to Camden City Hall and welcomed by Mayor Roy R. Stewart.

The merchants’ committee presented a large flag to the city, which was received by Mayor Stewart. The visiting stars were then guests at a luncheon in the Walt Whitman Hotel. In an address at the luncheon, Mayor Stewart lauded Camden as the “Centre of the Universe” and praised the Courier-Post Newspapers for the part they have played in trying to restore normal prosperity. He thanked all interests for their contribution toward the success of the “Co-operation Days” sales events arranged by the city’s stores. He gave special praise to Sears, Roebuck and Company for its co-operation with the city and its merchants.

Response to Mayor Stewart’s address was made by Howard Thurston, district manager of the Sears stores; Charles Gates, manager of the local store, and Gosh, all of whom assured co-operation of the store in any civic enterprise.

The dinner guests included the radio stars and Mayor Stewart, D. Minard Shaw, district advertising manager of Sears; Thurston Gates, A. Gosh, R. J. Mitchell, assistant to the district manager; Mary A. Dickinson, Mrs. M. Loether, all of the Sears, Roebuck official family; Harry A. Moran, chairman Merchants Committee; William Wallace, Ida Laurick, E. Howard Broome, secretary to the mayor; Samuel Auerbach, William Rothman, Simon Abramson, Joseph V. Haas, S. Lester, M. Futernick, Charles F. Knapp, manager Walt Whitman Hotel and Walter L. Tushingham, Courier-Post Newspapers.

Following the dinner, the radio stars and guests were whisked with motorcycle escorts on an inspection tour of Central Airport, and then to the Sears store where a vast throng was on hand to see the noted artists. All the stars made brief talks over the air and then made a tour of the store.

Joe Welsh and Helen Stevens Win $1000; Set Record for East

Joe Welsh, of Camden, and Helen Stevens, of Philadelphia, last night won the Walkathon contest which has been in progress at Central Airport for 3175 continuous hours, setting up a new record for the East.

When Bobby Watson, partner and wife of Richey Neilson, took the third fall for that couple at 10.35 p.m., last night the contest automatically ended.

Thunderous applause greeted the winners from thousands packed in the hangar. The two couples began a continuous elimination treadmill at 9.15 p.m., Saturday and it progressed for 49 hours and 20 minutes before the losing couple was counted out. During that period the contestants were allowed but five minutes rest every two hours.

The management announced that 2000 fans remained in the hangar continuously during the treadmill to see that the contest was on the level. Neilson took the first fall at 9.08 p.m., Sunday. Miss Stevens fell at 12.18 p.m. yesterday. Welsh fell at 9.15 p.m. last night. Neilson slumped at 9.40 p.m. and Miss Watson toppled for the losing fall at 10.35.

The grand ball will be held at the hangar tonight at which time the Courier-Post newspapers will present the $1000 prize to the winners. The money was posted by the management of the Walkathon with the newspapers at the beginning of the contest.

The winning couple will also be presented with diamond rings by Herman Tull, 2581 Baird Boulevard.

The contest was short of breaking a record on the West Coast by 30 hours. It was actually in progress 3172 hours and 35 minutes. It began with 45 couples.

British Envoy Denies Any Plan to Confer With F. R. on Coast

Sir Ronald Lindsay, British ambassador to the United States, denied while in Camden yesterday afternoon that he had any plan to confer with President Roosevelt at some point along the New England coast.

Sir Ronald, flying from Washington to Boston, talked to reporters while his plane, halted at Central Airport. It had been reported that he was making the trip to meet the President on the latter’s vacation cruise and discuss the progress of the world economic conference at London. “Nothing of the sort,” said the giant Britisher. “Simply on a little jaunt to Boston to visit friends for two or three days. I’ve no intention of seeing President Roosevelt.”

The ambassador declined to answer any questions of state. “I’ve made it a policy in Washington to answer no questions of that nature. From time to time I issue press statements but that’s all. I get along very well with the gentlemen of the press under that arrangement.”

Sir Ronald was perfectly willing to talk about the weather, flying and other unimportant subjects. He flies, he said, whenever he can and uses trains as seldom as possible. He thinks Washington’s weather “the worst in the world.” He likes traveling alone, as he was yesterday, without the company of secretaries and other attaches of the embassy.

Although an Englishman, Sir Ronald indicated a frugality usually attributed to the Scotch when he was about to depart. Photographers took his picture when he alighted from the plane and were waiting to take another as he walked toward it to embark.

“No, no,” he said, raising his hand and half waving them away. “Why not?” asked one of the picture takers. “You got me once,” he replied with a twinkle, “You shouldn’t waste another plate.” But he allowed a “close-up” to be taken anyway before he ducked his huge six-foot, four-inch form into the plane and flew away.

'Aeroplaning' Enables Passenger to Do Stunts With One Foot on Ground

Nellie Tayloe Ross, director of the U.S. Mint and former governor of Wyoming, arrived by plane at Central Airport at 11:25 a.m. yesterday and proceeded by motor to the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia, for dinner.

The plane, one of the fleet of the Eastern Air Transport line, came from Washington.

Post Welcomed by Mayor, Reception Committees and Beauties as Hundreds Ignore Rain to View Arrival and Motor Parade

This venue was open from 1934 to 1939. It originally opened as a dog track in 1934. That venture only lasted one season, and over the next few years boxing, wrestling and racing took place here, under the aegis of promoter Charlie Grip.

Four persons in a small coupe were injured last night when the machine crashed into a pole at Seventeenth Street and Admiral Wilson Boulevard during a dense fog.

The car broke off a telephone pole at the base, strewing live wires on the highway. Traffic was detoured until the damage could be repaired by Bell Telephone Company linemen.

The fog, which covered Camden and its suburbs like a blanket, grounded air liners at Central Airport, slowed up motor traffic on highways and the Camden bridge.

Thomas Tomlinson, 18, of Oak Avenue, Delaware Township, was taking driving lessons in a car he purchased a week ago when he crashed into the pole. Police said three passengers were crowded in the front seat and three more in a rumble seat.

Tomlinson was driving on a student’s permit and was accompanied by Allen Filer, 20, a licensed driver, of 713 Grant Street, police learned. Filer is in Cooper Hospital with a fractured right leg. His brother, William, 18, suffered a possible concussion of the brain and is in the same hospital. Tomlinson received bruises of the right leg and arm and was treated at Cooper Hospital.

Samuel McCall, 18, of 708 Bailey Street, was taken to West Jersey Hospital, where he was treated for cuts of the nose. He told police there that someone struck him with a bottle and he would get his assailant later. When taken to police headquarters, McCall was confronted by the others and admitted he was injured in the automobile accident, City Detective Benjamin Simon said.

Mary Williamson, 18, and Eleanor Shockley, 16, both of 625 North Front Street, escaped with a few minor bruises.

Delaware river ferryboats were operated with caution as the view of pilots was obscured by the density of the fog. Whistles were blown continuously and fog bells rang throughout the night. Automobiles and buses were slowed down to five miles an hour by thick fog in the suburbs, especially in lowlands and near meadows. The airport reported all local planes grounded and no airliners were making a call here.

Tail Wheel of Plane Collapses at Central Airport; Nobody Injured

Eleven passengers on a Transcontinental and Western Air Transport plane got an unexpected thrill at the end of their air journey, when the “tail wheel” collapsed during the landing at Central Airport.

Neither the passengers nor the crew of three were injured and the only inconvenience for the riders was that they had to walk from the south end of the field to the Administration building.

All of the passengers were scheduled to leave the plane at Camden although the trip officially was to have ended in Newark. The flight originated on the West Coast but most of the passengers were picked up at Chicago and Pittsburgh.

R. A. Heiderman, the pilot, negotiated the landing to the Northeast-Southwest runway perfectly but as he was taxiing to the South end of the field the wheel collapsed. Heiderman purposely put the plane into a “ground loop” to stop it by turning it around on the front wheels.

The passengers were strapped in their seats and were only aware of the mishap by a slight jolt when the wheel let go. The pilot told Carl Flournoy, field manager of the line, that he thought he struck something on the runway but an inspection today revealed it in perfect condition. The damage was repaired yesterday.

First Lady Boards Plane After Philadelphia Speech As Mt. Holly Pupils on Inspection Tour Greet Her; Chats with Teachers

Dogs only raced in 1934. The rodeo put on a show in June of 1938.

Thanks to Peter McHugh for proofreading this page. Also thanks to John Ciafrani and Tom Probst for further information about Central Airport.

For more about our forgotten Aviation History, visit Paul Freeman’s Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields, without whose research this page would be far poorer.